The SAP Center is the site for a divisional clash as the San Jose Sharks welcome the visiting Calgary Flames. It’s the fourth and last time that the two clubs will go at it in the regular season. The game will get going at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 24 and it can be caught live on Sportsnet West.
Calgary Flames vs. San Jose Sharks Odds
San Jose enters the contest as the noticeable favorite with a moneyline of -170. The line for Calgary sits at +150 and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -105 money on the over and -115 on the under.
San Jose is 42-32 straight up (SU) and has netted 3.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. That win percentage, the second-best in the Pacific Division so far this season, hasn’t moved much from what the team posted during last year’s regular season (46-36). Among the team’s 74 games this season, 31 have gone under the total, while 31 have gone over and just two have pushed. This season, the team is 23-14 SU at home.
The Sharks have converted on 21.3 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked first overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 84.5 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Sharks have been penalized just 3.2 times per game overall this season, and 1.8 per game over their last five outings home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 3.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, in total.
Averaging 25.9 saves per game with a .917 save percentage, Martin Jones (28-25-7) has been the best goalkeeper for San Jose this year. If the Sharks, however, decide to rest him, the team could roll with Aaron Dell (15-12-12 record, .913 save percentage, 2.66 goals against average).
Brent Burns and Joe Pavelski will both lead the charge for the Sharks. Burns (59 points) has put up 11 goals and 48 assists and has recorded multiple points 14 times this year. Pavelski has 19 goals and 40 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 41 games.
On the other side of the ice, Calgary is 35-40 straight up (SU) and has lost 12.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 37 of its outings have gone under the total, while 36 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Flames are 20-18 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Flames have converted on just 16.9 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 12th overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
Calgary’s players have been whistled for penalties 4.3 times per game in total this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five road outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 7.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Mike Smith (2.66 goals against average and .916 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Calgary. Smith is averaging 28.0 saves per game and owns a 25-28-6 record.
For the visiting Flames, the offense will run through Johnny Gaudreau, who has 59 assists and 23 goals this season.
Calgary Flames vs. San Jose Sharks Betting Predictions
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Flames, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
San Jose is 4-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Calgary is 2-5 in shootouts.
The total has gone over in four of San Jose’s last five outings.
Two clubs that have clobbered opponents’ nets with shots, Calgary has attempted the league’s seventh-most shots on goal (33.8) while San Jose has attempted the ninth-most (32.9).
San Jose has averaged 3.1 goals per game overall this season, but is averaging 4.8 per match up in its last six games (the team’s a perfect 0-0 SU during that span).
Over Calgary’s last ten games, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-6 in those games).
xxxxx
